Monday, February 18, 2013

Starburst Quilt-A-Long - Finishing

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Starburst Quilt-A-Long.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Once again, here is the schedule, but if you want to work ahead you can use the tutorial  just be sure to take pictures of your weekly assignments so you can link them up for weekly prizes :)

January 14 - Cutting Post
January 21 - Goose in the Corner and Half Square Triangles
January 28 - Flying Geese
February 4 - Building Blocks - At least 2
February 11 - Finish Blocks and Sashing
February 18 - Baste it, Quilt it, Bind It
March 4 - Starburst Parade and Grand Prizes


Alright, We need a winner for last week's assignment!!

The Quilt Top winner who gets a Amy Butler Spots Charm Pack is  . . .#10 -Mary- Congrats :)



I am so excited for this week!!  This weeks assignment is to finish your quilt top!! I just love seeing it all come together!!    


LAST ASSIGNMENT - FINISH UP THOSE QUILTS

So basically, finishing a quilt consists of 3 steps.  Basting, Quilting, and Binding.  Which sounds so simple but is actually a rather large part of making the quilt.  If you are new to quilting, I thought you might find these three video's helpful.  They go over the basics of these three steps and the options available to you and will be this weeks "tutorials ".

BASTE IT



QUILT IT

BIND IT


Oh . . . and if you are stuck on what type of quilting to do, you can see my Free Motion Quilting Video Tutorials here.  Maybe one will help to spark an idea and show you how to do it :)

So once it's finished up then what???  Let's review!!!

GRAND PRIZE LINK UP

The Grand Prizes that you are hoping to be picked for is a  . .

A $75.00 Gift Certificate that you can spend as you like!!



In order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize you need to Link Up your completed quilt top (not quilted yet, just the quilt top) at the end of last weeks post that you can find here!  There is no linky this week to link up to :) You have until March 4th to get your quilt top sewn together and linked to be entered :)  

STARBURST QUILT-A-LONG PARADE

Now, as just mentioned, you only have to have your quilt top done to enter into the grand prize link up . . . but I wanted to encourage you to finish these quilts and not set the quilt top in a pile of "to be quilted" so . . . I am planning a little Parade for the 4th of March :)  The parade will be for quilted and bound Starburst Quilts!!  So, if you would like your quilt to be in the Parade, please send me an email (happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com)  with your favorite Starburst Quilt picture attached as well as the name you would like your photo listed with, where you are from, and a blog or flickr photostream link if applicable.  You can email me anytime from now until the morning of the 4th and I will get you added to the Parade!!!

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone's finishes!!!  You can decide if you would like to add your finish picture to the Flickr group now or wait until after the parade to keep it a secret :)  Grand Prize winners will be announced on March 4th followed by an amazing parade filled with all of your beautiful quilts!!!  Can't wait!!!

So now what do you do??? 

 Baste, Quilt, and Bind!!

Then email me your finish by March 4!!!!   

Any questions??  Send them to happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Saturday, February 16, 2013

Pre Quilt-Con Sneak Peek

Christa from the shop Christa Quilts! contacted me this last week asking if she could showcase my Refracted quilt in her Pre-Quilt-Con Sneak Peek.  Well of course I was totally honored and said yes in a second!!  So, if your like me, and can't attend Quilt-Con and want to see a little taste of the quilts in the show, pop on over to Christa's Blog and check it out!! (or if your going and want a few spoilers, you can pop over too :)


I still can't believe that my quilt will be hanging in a Quilt Show.  Ahhh!!  So exciting :) I am not expecting to win or anything, but I am just super excited that one of my quilts will be hanging with so many other quilters works of art.  It really is an awesome feeling to be part of a group that I admire so much!!
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Friday, February 15, 2013

A Beautiful Pillow for this Lucky Girl

Last December I was a super lucky girl!!  I won a very special prize during the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and it arrived this week after a little trip over the "pond"!!!  See what I mean by being so lucky . . .

Alison of Little Island Quilting made this beautiful pillow just for me.  Isn't it just fabulous!!  She asked us to give her three words to describe what type of pillow we would like.  I don't remember my words . . . but she sure interpreted them great!!    I love the colors, the design, the quilting!!  I love it all!!


  And look, she even finished it with an invisible zipper.  I wouldn't even begin to know how to do that!


This will be my beautiful pillow's new home.  This is Mom's chair, and it is only fitting it be adorned with this special pillow!!  Thank you a million times over Alison!!  You are the greatest!!


And one last thing.  Alison is having a bit of a hard time at the moment.  He stunning quilt that was sent to Quilt-Con has been lost in the mail.  So if you have a moment,  pop on over and write her a little something to help try and cheer her up.  I know it would mean a lot and I am sure we can all understand how hard this would be.  Here is hoping it get's found soon.



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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valantine's Day Tutorials


Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!

So last year at this time I was finishing up my first Blog Hop.  The Simply Charmed Blog Hop :)  It was so much fun.  Makes me realize I need to do another one some time. (You know, when I have a minute or 2)   I thought I would be fun to share the tutorials from the hop today.  I mean, after all, they are filled with lots of hearts and hugs and kisses :)



 Heather from Quilt Story with the Heart Garland Tutorial

 Melissa from Lilac Lane with the Be Mine Tote Tutorial

Angela from Cut to Pieces with the Pincushion Tutorial

 Natalia from Piece N Quilt with the Trio of Pillows Tutorial


 Corey from Little Miss Shabby with the Shabby Heart Pillow

Have a Happy Valentines Day and be sure to give an extra hug or kiss to the ones you love!!!

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A New Video Tutorial - FMQ Traveling Loops and Hearts

Have a little Valentine's projects in the works??  Trying to decide how to finish it up??  If so, you might be in the same boat as I was yesterday.  In finishing up my new Valentines quilt (Tutorial coming to the MBS soon, just waiting to hear on the date :)  I decided to try a new Free Motion Quilting design that would represent this holiday full of love.  So what represent love more than hearts??  So I created a little all over design that travels with loops and has adorable little hearts tied in.   And since I thought it might be helpful to you as well, I made a little video.  Enjoy ;)


I hope this helps in finishing up and of your Valentine's projects :)  Boy oh boy, do I like to procrastinate :)  Nothing like day before the holiday :)
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